MORE evidence of the dangers to women's health of the binge-drinking "ladette" culture was revealed in new research yesterday.

A study of more than 3,000 women found that those who exceeded the guidelines of limiting alcohol intake to 21 units a week increased their risk of coronary heart disease by 57%.

The researchers from University College London said their study, published in the journal Addiction, gave a "snapshot" of what could happen to a generation of binge-drinking women in the future.

Dr Annie Britton and Professor Michael Marmot used data from an 11-year study of more than 10,000 civil servants to find out whether their alcohol consumption led to an increased risk of heart disease and overall death rates.

In the group of 3,374 women, they found that death rates in those who drank two or more times a day were seven times higher than women who drank one or two drinks a week.

But being teetotal was also associated with an increased danger - those who did not drink at all had an 80% increased risk of heart disease.

Dr Britton said, "Small and often is probably the best method for drinking but we certainly wouldn't endorse people who don't drink (to) go out and start as a result of this and other studies."

The researcher said that the study produced more evidence to support fears about the increasing "ladette" culture, led by celebrities such as Radio One DJ Sara Cox.

"This study only looks at heart disease.

"If we also looked at things like cirrhosis and accidents caused by drinking we would be quite staggered by what is going on," said Dr Britton.